Arrival & Check-In at PARKROYAL on Beach Road

We pulled up just after 11am. Two staff members were at the driveway immediately to welcome us and help with luggage.

At the reception, check-in was fuss-free. The front office manager, Ganesan, welcomed us back – the system flagged that we had stayed before, which is a small touch but a good one. It sets the tone for the whole stay. We were in our room within minutes.

The lobby felt noticeably quieter than our previous two visits. It is usually buzzing. Low travel season, we figured. But the service was just as sharp regardless.

The room isn’t fancy, but it’s cosy and comfortable. A luggage stand is provided, and there’s still ample space to move around.

The Room – Club Deluxe, Floor 6

We booked a standard Deluxe Room directly through the Pan Pacific Hotels Group website. We paid just under S$200 per night, after using our D$ (GHA Discovery’s rewards currency) to offset the cost. With our GHA Titanium Membership, we received a complimentary double room upgrade to a Club Deluxe Room (worth S$400 per night) with full Club Lounge access. That upgrade alone changes the value equation completely.

Facing Beach Road, the room looks out towards Kampong Glam. While the hotel only reaches the 7th floor and the view isn’t spectacular, I still preferred this over the back-facing room we had previously.

We were assigned room 658 on the 6th floor – the same floor as the Club Lounge, which is convenient.

Room Tour

Here’s another view of the room from a different angle.

My favourite spot—great for getting some work done or simply relaxing with my iPad.

The bathroom is compact, but clean and functional, with good lighting.

The shower area is roomy, equipped with a fixed and handheld shower, along with dispenser bottles for shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.

Filtered drinking water is provided in the bathroom, so no need for bottled water.

The hotel provides essentials such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, and shaving kits, so no need to pack them. Need a refill? Just request via the Digital Concierge.

Nespresso machine and kettle provided, but we stuck to the Club Lounge for coffee and tea since it was just nearby.

Drawer comes stocked with coffee sachets, a variety of tea bags, creamer, and sugar.

The mini fridge only has milk capsules for your tea or coffee, but you can easily grab soft drinks from the Club Lounge and enjoy them anytime.

Ample wardrobe space with hangers, bathrobes, iron and board, a safe for two laptops, hair dryer in the drawer, and slippers at the bottom.

What’s New in the Room

The setup has not changed dramatically, but there were a couple of noticeable improvements:

A small pouch on the bedside table containing a mini hairbrush, sleep mask, and ear plugs. In my last review, I mentioned that the corridor noise could be an issue for light sleepers. The ear plugs are a practical fix.

The bathroom now uses dispenser bottles for hand soap and body lotion instead of individual plastic tubes. More eco-conscious, less waste.

A corner art piece adds character to the room, and every room has a different one.

The complimentary tin of cookies from GHA Titanium membership was back. These cookies are genuinely good!

Where It Falls Short

TV System

The TV software is slow and laggy. Navigating through the menu takes ages – you click something and just wait. We brought our own Chromecast to stream Netflix instead, which worked perfectly fine since the hotel Wi-Fi is fast and stable. But the TV system itself needs a proper upgrade.

Air-Conditioning

I flagged this in my previous review and unfortunately it is still the same issue. The air-con does not cool the room effectively. The lowest temperature setting is 20.5°C. Seated on the couch near the unit, you can feel the airflow. On the bed though, it feels warm and stuffy. We had to wait until the middle of the night before the room finally cooled down enough to sleep comfortably. The quilt was too thick to even bother with – we left it aside entirely. For a hotel room in Singapore’s humidity, this is something PARKROYAL on Beach Road really needs to sort out.

For those who like to work out on their schedule, the 24/7 gym has you covered.

Soaking in the view from the swimming pool.

GHA Titanium Membership – The Real Reason to Book Direct

If you are not yet a GHA Discovery member, this is worth your attention. The Titanium tier stacks benefits in a way that makes a mid-range booking feel well above its price point. Here is what we got on this stay:

• Double room upgrade from Deluxe to Club Deluxe
• Full Club Lounge access (high tea, evening cocktails, breakfast)
• Complimentary tin of house-made cookies on arrival
• 25% off food and beverage at hotel restaurants
• $50 dining credit (from direct booking via Pan Pacific Hotels Group website)

The $50 dining credit is a one-time use – you cannot split it across two meals. But combined with the 25% GHA discount, our poolside lunch worked out to roughly $32 after taxes. Covered entirely by the credit. That is a free meal.

Dining at PARKROYAL on Beach Road

Poolside Bar (Level 4) – Lunch

We used the $50 credit here. Ordered the Ginger Club Sandwich, a Chicken Pie, and Caesar on the Go Wrap. Nothing revelatory, but solid enough for a poolside lunch.

The fries were the standout – crispy exterior, soft inside, the kind you keep reaching for. Bill came to about $32 after the 25% discount and taxes. The credit covered it entirely.

Club Lounge – High Tea (2–4pm)

Staff came to take drinks orders as soon as we sat down. The high tea spread arrived on a stand: one savoury croissant sandwich and three slices of cake per person. Small portions, light bites. Honestly, not the highlight of the Club Lounge experience. You would not miss much by skipping it.

Club Lounge – Evening Cocktails (6–8pm)

This is where the Club Lounge earns its keep. On the first evening, the spread included:

• Grilled Chicken Yakitori
• Crispy Duck Tenders with Mala Mayo
• Roasted Potatoes
• Cold canapés, cheeses with crackers, dried mango, nuts, tortilla chips
• Salad, potato salad, sushi
• Desserts and fruit
• Beer, wines, and sparkling wine

On the second evening, there were hot dishes like Mushroom Penne in Cream Sauce, Spicy Fried Chicken, and Braised Duck. Not a massive spread, but more than enough to serve as dinner. Add in free-flowing drinks and you have a compelling reason to skip booking a restaurant outside.

Breakfast – Club Lounge vs Ginger Restaurant

The Club Lounge was busy both mornings, so we headed down to Ginger restaurant instead. The spread was solid across the board:

• Indian: prata, thosai, mint and tomato chutneys (genuinely good)
• Western: scrambled eggs, fried eggs, baked beans, sausages, hashbrowns
• Asian: nasi lemak with curry chicken, fried kway teow, fried carrot cake
• Congee station with salted egg, fried dace, braised peanuts, century egg
• Smoked salmon, cold cuts, salad
• Pancake machine, French toast, waffles with spreads and syrups

Congee and the Indian selection are the strongest offerings. The rest is competent but unremarkable. Go for the congee and the thosai.

Digital Concierge – Actually Works This Time

The Digital Concierge is accessible via QR code in the room. On previous stays, it was glitchy. This time, it worked well. We requested face towels, selected an immediate delivery time, and housekeeping arrived quickly. The staff member even held up both sizes of towels outside the door to check which we preferred – a small, funny, genuinely human moment.

The service lets you request amenities, schedule housekeeping, weigh luggage at the concierge, order in-room dining, and access the TV channel list. It is genuinely useful for guests who do not want to pick up the phone.

Bussorah Street comes alive with shops and restaurants, with Sultan Mosque standing proudly in the background.

The Location – Kampong Glam on Your Doorstep

PARKROYAL on Beach Road sits directly opposite Kampong Glam. That is one of the main reasons we keep returning. Cross the road and you are in one of Singapore’s most atmospheric neighbourhoods.

A few things worth doing in the area:

• Do what all the tourists do – snap photos of Sultan Mosque, street murals and street scenes around Kampong Glam
• Pick up unique souvenirs at Singapore Gift Gate
• Get a cup of spiced Teh Tarik at Tarik, just opposite the mosque
• Walk along Haji Lane and Arab Street for independent boutiques and cafés

For a hotel staycation in Singapore, having this much to explore right outside is a real advantage.

One More Thing – The Lobby Refreshments Corner

On the last day, while waiting for our Grab after checkout, I noticed a small refreshments corner in the lobby. Fruit-infused cold water, murukku, and ice gem biscuits – free for guests. It is a small gesture but a warm one. Exactly the kind of detail that stays in your memory.